Buffering wins 2nd Queensland Horse Of The Year title

Buffering is yet to win at Group 1 level but he was able to pick up his second Queensland Horse Of the Year title for the 2012 – 2013 racing season at the Queensland Racing awards dinner on Saturday night.

Buffering was named Queensland Racehorse Of The Year for the second time. Photo by Daniel Costello.

The Robert Heathcote trained sprinter ran second again at Group 1 level on Friday night at Moonee Valley in the $450,000 Programmed Moir Stakes (1200m), making it the sixth time he has received the runner’s up cheque in a Group 1 race.

The Mossman six year old also has four Group1 thirds to his credit, making it ten placings at the elite level, but he has been able to amass a healthy $2.6 million for connections from a total of twelve wins from thirty-five starts.

Buffering set the pace on Friday night in the Moir but was no match for the resurrected Samaready who ran away to record a four lengths victory and her second Group 1 win.

The Mick Price trained mare took out the 2012 Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield before running third to Pierro in the Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill.

Heathcote was offering no excuses for another heat breaking second, but Buffering was found to be lame on Sunday morning with a bruised hoof.

But Brisbane’s leading trainer is confident he has enough to time treat the injury and have Buffering fit for a rematch with Samaready in the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.

“He had a stone bruise on his near foreleg. Most often stone bruises are concussion injuries but he wasn’t due to start for another month and we will give him the normal treatment,” Heathcote said.

Buffering was having his first run back since finishing second toLinton in the Group 1 $1.36m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June.

The Mossman six year old also filled the runner up stall in last year’s Stradbroke Handicap behind Mid Summer Music as well a second and two thirds to the mighty Black Caviar.

The luckless sprinter was also beaten a nose by Hay List in the 2012 Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

While Heathcote was crowned Brisbane’s leading trainer for the fifth time, rival Kelso Wood took the honours for the Queensland Trainer Of The Year after winning the $2m Jeep Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast in January with Real Surreal.

In other RQ awards on the night, jockey Michael Cahill was acknowledged as the leading rider while apprentice Tegan Harrison was recognised for her achievement of riding the most winners by a female riderand was given the Racing Queensland Gold Award.

Author: Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.